Over 1,000 prom dresses and another 1,000 for homecoming hang at Kuhn's, part of the more than 4,000 new designer gowns the store keeps in stock at all times, a figure Kuhn's publishes itself. Kuhn's Bridal and Formal Outlet sits on Taylortown Road north of Mansfield, not in a mall or a downtown block, and it has built a following on volume, sizing and price rather than location.
Sizing is the second big number. Kuhn's carries sizes 0 to 34-plus, and the store is specific that those sizes "will always be available and in stock for your viewing pleasure." For a prom shopper outside the sample-size range, that's the difference between trying on the real dress and ordering blind from a swatch.
An outlet, by name and by price
The word outlet is in the name for a reason. The homepage promises affordable outlet prices and says that at its prices, every day is a sale.
The store's services list goes well past prom and homecoming wear.
Pageant
Pageant wear and designer gowns
Accessories
Gloves, wraps, jewelry, tiaras, veils, headpieces and crinoline slips
Bridal
Wedding gowns and mother of the bride and groom gowns
Pageant girls and prom girls often need the same things, a full skirt, the right slip underneath and a bit of sparkle, so it's handy to find all of it on one set of racks. A customer testimonial Kuhn's has posted also points to a layaway program, which helps when a dress gets picked out in February and the last payment lands closer to the dance.
Jan Kuhn and the long view
Jan Kuhn has been in business since 1979. Richland Source profiled the shop in 2015 and laid out the backstory. Kuhn taught drama and coached at Crestview High School, and for 35 years she also rented and sold costumes, an obvious sideline for a drama teacher. In November 2014 she closed the costume side to focus entirely on bridal and formal wear, and she put money back into the shop: new carpet, lighting, signage and landscaping, roomier dressing rooms and a place for the men in the party to sit and wait.
“We’re no pressure. If we don’t have your dress, somebody else will.”
Kuhn gave Richland Source that line while describing her customers, and the low-pressure tone still sets the feel of the shop. She also told the paper that high school girls from local schools shop for prom at Kuhn's, alongside out-of-state families. One girl came from Indiana after an Ohio customer moved there and told her friends about the dresses. Another family from Georgia shops while visiting on vacation. Shoppers from Tennessee and Pennsylvania had found their way in too. Brides make the drive from Columbus, Cleveland and Dayton.
Booking a Kuhn's appointment on Taylortown Road
Kuhn's is by appointment only. Every page of the site says so, and that's the one thing not to skip. Reach out first, give the store an idea of what you're after, and the stock will be easier to work through when you get there. Hours vary by day and the store closes for major holidays, so schedule your visit early in the season. The prom page sums it up in five words: shop early for best selection.
Locally, Kuhn's draws from all of Richland County and the counties around it. Mansfield Senior High and Madison Comprehensive students are close by, and Ontario, Lexington, Shelby, Clear Fork and Crestview families shop here as well. Ashland High School and Galion High School shoppers come in from the edges of the region too. For families across north central Ohio, a spring prom trip here can easily turn into a homecoming trip in the fall, since the store stocks both.
Kuhn's prom FAQ
Do I need an appointment at Kuhn's?
Yes. The store operates by appointment only, so set a time before heading out to Taylortown Road.
What sizes does Kuhn's carry for prom?
Sizes 0 to 34-plus, kept in stock rather than ordered in, across more than a thousand prom dresses and a separate homecoming selection.